Gemotions

The pawn shop smelled of old cigarettes and desperation. Emily, the smell, the atmosphere, made her want to run. She'd been on the verge of crying all day. There, sparkling under the harsh glare of a spotlight, was her grandmother's ring. Her heart seemed to stutter in her chest.

She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She gripped the edge of the display case, her knuckles white. She looked around to make sure no one could see the wetness forming in her eyes. The shop owner, a man with a receding hairline, asked her what she wanted.

She swallowed hard, trying to regain control. "How…how much?" she stammered, the words barely audible. The shop owner looked her up and down.